City grieves as Sanmarg Editor-in-Chief consigned to flames

Kolkata, Sep 24 (UNI) Doyen of Hindi journalism and Editor-in-Chief of the ''Sanmarg'', one of the largest selling Hindi daily in eastern India, Ram Awtar Gupta, who died at a city nursing home here yesterday, was consigned to flames at Nimtala crematorium today.

Hundreds of followers, scores of scribes, many writers and others bade him farewell before the mortal remains were taken into pyre for the final journey.

Scores of social workers and politicians including Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M)'s Momammed Salim, many ministers of the state and Centre condoled his sudden death.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi called by phone Vivek Gupta, grandson and Managing Director of the paper from New Delhi and expressed his heartfelt condolence and sympathised with the family.

Ram Awtar Gupta was 85 and is survived by his wife and the grandson.

During his long association with media, he was the president of INS' Kolkata chapter.

He was conferred upon the ''Matushree'' for journalism and ''Qaumi-Tanzeem'' for peace and brotherhood between Hindu and Muslim in this part of the country, Besides he was actively involved in social works.

UNI PC RH SW KN1400